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`-NI-FETERS. PHOTD-LITHOGRAPMER WASHINGTON D C tait@ tets efwt @HimLOUIS HOFFMAN AND AUGUSTUS A. HOFFMAN, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK,

Letters Patent No. 65,487, dated Jzme 4, 1867.

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'l ALL WHOM IT MAY OONGERN:

` Be it known that we, LOUIS HOFFMAN and AUGUSTUS A. HOFFMAN, of thecity of Buit-alo, in the county of Erie, and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful improvement in Reversible Heels for Boots andShoes; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exactdescription the1eot`.roi`e1'ence being` had to the accompanyingdrawings, making a part of this speoiiication, in which- Figure 1 is aview of the b'ottoin of a shoe provided with our improvement.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the same, with the reversible partremoved, showing e plan of the connecting pin-te.

Figure 3 is a plan ot' a heel of ordinary form, which is designedto bechanged from one shoe to the other.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Our invention consists in thevspecial combination and arrangement,hereinafter described, by which the outer portion of the heel oi bootsand shoes is rendered capable of being easily reversed, as the rearportion becomes worn, or be transferred to the heel of the other shoe,when the wear is on one side, or be both reversed and changed to theother foot at the same time, as the peeuliarity of the individual mayrequire.

As represented in the drawings, A and B are the outer and detachableportions of the two styles of heels, A being of elliptical form, whileBis of the ordinary shape. This detachable portion may be made ofleather, rubber, or of both combined, as may be desired, and consists oftwo or more thicknesses ot' leather, fastened together in any suitableWay. C is a plate of metal of the form of a cross, countersunl'i ilushwith the face of the rigid portion of the heel, and secured thereto bymeans of screws d fl. At the centre is provided a threaded hole, z', inwhich the end of a screw, a, passing through the auxiliary part A or B,engages, which thereby lirmly fastens the latter thereto. Ilhis plate isalso provided with points or spurs ff. which extend into the detachableportion of heel, and thus prevent it turning or becoming laterallydisplaced. The spurs which are opposite being formed at an equaldistance from the hole at the centre, enables the outer portion A to hereversed as it becomes worn, the spurs fitting in the holes of thecap-piece equally well in either position. These plates C, being cast,land of the same size, enables the outer portion A B to be changed fromone heel to the other, or the former to be reversed at pleasure, bymerely disengagiug the screw e from the connecting plate. This plate,

being of the form shown, enables the points f to be arranged at such adistance from each other as to hold the cap-piece to the best advantage,while the broad bearing surface which the plate presents enables the capto be clamped thereto by means of the screw e, in a most secure andreliable manner. The plate C is cheaply made, being readily cast,preferably of malleable iron` and allows such a transposition of theouter portion of the heel from time to time as the differentpeculiarities of wear may require, and causes the heel to wear evenly,and maintain the counter and boot in proper shape. By this means onepair of heels only will be required till the boots are Worn out;besides, it saves the time and inconvenience of repairing them, which,as ordinarily constructed, is required by many persons every few weeks.

We do not claim broadly a reversible heel, but what we claim as ourinvention, is The connecting plate C, constructed and applied asdescribed, and provided with the spursiff, in combination with the screwe and reversible or removable outer portion A of a heel, arranged andoperating substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof we have hereunto signed our names in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

` LOUIS HOFFMAN,

AUG. A. HOFFMAN. Witnesses:

JAY HYATT, ALBERT HAIGBT.

